Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/249

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The Village Church.
211

When the benediction is pronounced the entire congregation bows prostrate before the Lord and continues for a moment in silent prayer. It is hard to find a more impressive scene than that afforded at the close of the service in one of the large congregations, where twelve or fifteen hundred people are seen lying with their faces on the floor, engaged in silent prayer. What a contrast with the scene in some other quarters of the globe, where many rush for their hats and cloaks while the benediction is being pronounced, and, before the "amen" has been reached, the aisles are crowded with people making for the doors.

Now come around to the church on Wednesday night at the hour of prayer meeting, and you will find practically the same congregation, the exception being in the case of those who are out of the village or those whose homes are too far for them to come at night. It is a part of their religion to attend Wednesday night prayer meeting. What could be more inspiring than to see a thousand people at prayer meeting on a cold winter night?

A glimpse into a few of these village churches will answer the question so often asked: "Do missions pay?" Take a peep into the churches in the city of Pyeng-yang, where twenty years ago there was not a single Christian, and where the first missionaries were stoned in the streets and their native helpers arrested, put in jail, and beaten nearly to death. Now see the half dozen or more churches, with their thousands of believers crowded into them at every service. Some of these congregations are so large that the men and